The troupe, which is operated by the Falun Gong religious movement, requires its performers to train under abusive conditions, former performers say.
For years, New York labour regulators stood by while a prominent dance company headquartered in the US state relied on children and teenagers to stage shows worldwide, earning tens of millions of dollars per season but offering little or no pay to the underage performers.
The US agency, which is tasked with enforcing laws on child labour, overtime and the minimum wage, declined to specify what it was examining. But the inquiry was opened following questions from, which in August documented numerous instances of what legal experts and former performers describe as questionable labour practices by the group.
Former performers said their schooling during months on tour largely consisted of writing in journals between shows or filling out homework packets. They were not aware of having work permits or trust accounts. “The vast majority of students will tell you this is their dream come true, and the parents rave about the positive changes in their children,” Shen Yun’s representatives, Ying Chen and Levi Browde, said in a statement.
Evan Glickman, a percussionist, spent two years with Shen Yun starting at age 24 and was paid about $US35,000 a year, he said. In his troupe, about two-thirds of the musicians were students, he said. Others said male performers were sometimes told to stay on the tour buses in overnight shifts in case Chinese government agents tried to sabotage the vehicles.Shen Yun’s representatives said the accounts described in this article were “extreme” examples that were “well beyond day-to-day norms in terms of hours, duties, travel schedules, etc”. They said it was “quite rare” and voluntary for performers to guard the bus.
“It’s also worth mentioning that, unlike some other dance companies where artists have to cover their own travel and lodging or even take on side jobs just to make ends meet, Shen Yun covers everything for us,” Pu said.
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